December 2015 Babies

Primrose oil vs membrane sweep

Bookmark Discussion

SweetBri1987 wrote:

So I asked my dr yesterday if I could start taking primrose oil around 36 weeks and she kinda chuckled and said baby will come when baby wants to come, don't rush it. She gave me a definitive "No" to primrose oil.

Ok so yeah I get it. Don't mess with Mother Nature. But I do like the sounds of primrose helping to prevent tearing as this is my first child and I know that I am pretty "small" down there. Also she said if it makes me feel any better she'll start doing membrane sweeps of my cervix to help. Isn't that kind of messing with Mother Nature? What's the difference between me taking a supplement and her coaxing my cervix? Any advice on this ladies?! What is your experience with primrose oil and/or membrane sweeps?

My midwife encourages primrose oil. Says it helps soften cervix. I did membrane sweep at 38wks with my first and ended up going into labor the next morning. 37 hrs of labor!!!!! I can't help but wonder if I hadn't had the membrane sweep my labor wouldn't have started so early and lasted so long. This time I am NOT doing any before 40wks. Just letting my body do its thing. I will take the pr oil though as I feel it helped! I had zero tears!

EPO has nothing to do with inducing labor. It's benefits are to soften the cervix, prevent tearing, and tone the uterus for an "easier" labor. It's recommended by my acupuncturist, who now trained and certified to distribute medicinal herbs.

My midwives won't do a membrane sweep until you're 40 weeks and dilated usually. My son was measuring very large and they will never induce or do a c-section for size alone and so I was offered one at 39 weeks IF I was dilated (I was 3cm). She said even without the sweep things felt like it might get going pretty soon and my water broke that night. Most people I know didn't go into labour within a week of their stretch and sweep so I think I was probably just ready to go already. My son was 9.5lbs and I only had 1st degree very mild tearing, but they said that was since It took so long to push him out... Going slow gave me time to stretch.

Not saying you suggested for me to take it without her knowledge or anything!! I just find it so strange that she is down for doing a membrane sweep which sounds like basically inducing labor but not the primrose oil.

I did epo to help soften cervix with my second and it was a slow process...with ny second I had my membranes swept at 38 weeks and my water broke 2 days later and my labor from water breaking to my son being born was 7 hours. :)

That makes no sense to me! Taking primrose oil is not going to put you into labor! Stripping your membranes could however put you into labor. I say take the primrose oil if you want! I did starting at 35 weeks with my son and am about to start it again this pregnancy!

I let my doctor do the membrane sweep with my first but I was not even slightly dilated or effaced. I went into labor the next day but it was horrific back labor for 48 hours without any progression. Almost ended up with a c section. I would so not go there unless your cervix seems ready. The second time I was again 0 % dilated and effaced at 40 weeks so because I was high risk the doc did cervadil overnight and induction in the morning and everything went much smoother. I'm also very intrigued by the EPO this time around and considering trying it.

Breast Pumping and Milk Storage Essentials Planning to breast pump? From various types of pumps to milk storage containers and baby bottles, we've broken down everything you need to get started, including some of our community's favorite pumping essentials.

The material on this website is provided for educational purposes only and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, or in place of therapy or medical care. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy.